The
RB-57F was the result of an Air Force request for a high altitude
reconnaissance aircraft with better performance than the RB-57D. Because
General Dynamics was responsible for contract maintenance on the -D model,
the USAF asked for a conversion proposal for the new aircraft which was to
become the RB-57F.

A prototype conversion contract was awarded
in the fall of 1962 and the first aircraft made its first flight on 23
June 1963.

The
RB-57F design incorporated many major changes. The first was the greatly
enlarged wing. The wing had a span of more than 122 feet; 14 feet more
than the RB-57D and nearly double that of a B-57B. The second obvious
change was the replacement of the Wright J65 turbojets with Pratt &
Whitney TF33 turbofan engines. The TF33s gave the aircraft more than
double the thrust of the -B model.

The RB-57F was also capable of being fitted
with two Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojets which were mounted in pods and
could be attached to the wings outboard of the TF33s. These auxiliary
engines were only for use at altitude, in fact, they were not equipped
with starters and had to be air started while the aircraft was in flight.
At altitudes above 40,000 feet, the J60s generated about 3,300 lbs. of
thrust each and increased the maximum altitude of the RB-57F by 2,000 to
3,000 feet.

The size of the tail was also greatly
increased. The height of the vertical stabilizer was increased to 19 feet
and combined with an increase in the width doubled the area of the
stabilizer which was necessary for yaw control at very high altitudes (up
to 80,000 ft.).

The electronics Systems were also updated on
the -F model. The nose of the aircraft was lengthened to house
sophisticated navigational equipment along with sensitive detection
devices for gathering electronic/signal intelligence. The wings had four
hard points various camera and air sampling pods could be mounted when the
J60 engine pods were removed.

A
total of 21 aircraft were modified by General Dynamics to the RB-57F
configuration: 3 RB-57As, 14 B-57Bs and 4 RB-57Ds. Because of the
extensive changes incorporated into the -F model, the aircraft were given
new 1963 serial numbers as they were completed. Most of the -F models
operated by the US Air Force was assigned as weather reconnaissance
aircraft and used in part to measure radiation levels after above ground
nuclear weapons tests conducted by other countries.

9th

WEATHER

RECONNAISSANCE

WING

58th

WEATHER

RECONNAISSANCE

SQUADRON

A user of the WB-57F was the 58th
Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Kirtland AFB, in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, who received their first aircraft in 1964.

These Canberra's were deployed throughout
the world where there was suspected atmospheric testing of nuclear devices
to sample the upper atmosphere for nuclear debris.

58th WRS RB-57F at
KWAJALEIN

58th WRS RB-57F

Joe Putman

RB-57F Pilots 1969

Alaska
Deployment

Joe Breem

Due to a poor material selection, the
long wings of the WB-57Fs started showing stress corrosion cracks
after a few short years of service. It was decided to replace the wing
spar and ribs with a different type of aluminium, but it was not
financially feasible to replace the entire fleet, and nine planes were
sent to storage. Shortly thereafter, the 58th WRS deactivated their
remaining planes in 1974, ending a long era of the Canberras military
service.

However, shortly before this in 1968, NASA had contracted with the Air
Force to operate an RB-57F, which flew many research missions as part
of the Earth Resources Technology Satellite program. In 1972, the Air
Force thought the expense was too high, and transferred the plane to
NASA. This aircraft was re-numbered NASA 925. This plane operated
until 1982, when it was retired. It currently resides in the Pima Air
Museum in Tucson, Arizona. WB-57 serial number 63-13295 was
removed from Davis Monthan AMARG ( 309th
Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.)
For restoration in Colorado. It will be re-designated NASA 927 and
flown to Texas when completed.

Project Airstream was a continuation of
Stardust/HASP except that RB-57F/WB-57F aircraft were employed and
sampling missions were limited to one per season, 3 or 4 missions per
year. The aircraft were flown by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration under the direction of the Johnson Space Center, Houston,
Texas.